: : Wow! This is valueable info! Does it matter if your hands are bigger? I have had pain in my left hand before, but after one of my teachers showed some ways to relax while I was playing( and stay that way), I haven't had any more trouble. I even strectch my index finger down a fret! Should I be worried about potential damage a few years down the road? What should I tell my students?: : Thanx-: : Ben

: Ben:: I would E-mail Carol. SHe is a neat lady and will get back to you fairly quickly.: Personally, I think it is very important. From what I understand the damage to your left hand can be pretty substantial. Apparently it has to do with the fact that the pinky and ring finger share a tendon, and the ungodly stretching of the pinky away from the ring finger on the nut end of the bass is very unhealthy. But please ask Carol.: PAige-------------------------------------------------------------You can get away with using the 3rd finger more if you have extra-large hands (you don't want to finger the bass like it's a ukulele). But the main thing to observe is do not stretch your hand for any length of time, use your left thumb as a pivot (keep the fingers fairly grouped together for the ultimate in relaxation), and never use the 3rd finger in place of the 4th finger....this slight twist of the wrist is what causes carpal tunnel in my opinion, and years of teaching and observing ones who have that. None of my 3000 plus students ever developed carpal tunnel, neither did I in all the work I did. By simply changing your LH around a little (see the photos of the left-hand on my Playing Tips page), you'll ensure that you're using a safe technique and you'll always feel relaxed, have more energy, and something happens between the brain and fingers responding to the fact that you have more notes available and easier to get.